Posted 3 years ago on July 14, 2013, 6:24 p.m. EST by shoozTroll
(17632)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Welcome to the wonderful World of spilled bitumin.

Who is Chris Wahmhoff? If you follow the environmental movement, you may already have some idea of who Chris Wahmhoff is. At this time he might be best known as “the guy that rode his skateboard into that Enbridge pipeline in Michigan.” Around Michigan, he’s known for a lot of other things as well, his role in Occupy Kalamazoo, his role in an important protest/action against fracking that took place during an MDNR’s land auction a year ago, his devotion to helping others, his energy and honesty, and of course, his consistency in fighting for economic justice, protesting big banks, helping MI families fight eviction and doing hundreds of other things to educate people, raise awareness and improve the lives of others. I have had the personal good fortune of knowing Chris through his work in the Michigan environmental movement and various other causes that he has thrown his heart and soul into. I also was fortunate enough to be able to interview him immediately following his action against Enbridge, to speak with his girlfriend Lisa Lalegio and to talk with other members of MICATS (Michigan Coalition Against Tar Sands) in order to be able to write this piece and those that will accompany it. If you want to understand why Chris Wahmhoff chose to put his life on the line by skateboarding into that pipe, it’s important that you first understand who he is and what he represents.

In July of 2010 the lives of thousands of people who live, work and play in the Marshall, Michigan area were changed forever. As more than a million gallons of tar sands oil, technically known as dilbit or diluted bitumen, poured into the once thriving waterways of the Kalamazoo River, these Michigan residents became the first humans ever, to experience the devastating consequences of a tar sands oil spill of this size and nature. For those who are not aware, dilbit (the technical name for tar sands oil) is not the same type of oil that humans have been spilling and leaking into other areas of the country, like the Gulf of Mexico and along the East coast. It is a thick, dirty oil which cannot flow readily through a traditional pipeline. The toxic chemicals used to dilute the “oil” in order to make it liquid enough to move through the Enbridge pipeline were the first thing released into the air, when the spill first occurred along the Kalamazoo River. Nearby residents almost immediately began to experience a wide range of severe medical conditions, from difficulty breathing to red, angry rashes, many had seizures for the first time in their lives and in some cases, permanent illness and even death occurred. 3 years later, many local residents continue to experience diverse medical symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, especially in areas directly impacted by the spill.

Two weeks after skateboarding into an Enbridge pipeline, in Marshall, Michigan, Chris Wahmhoff is experiencing bouts of dizziness, dull persistent headaches, trouble remembering and odd sensations which include sudden feelings of heat on one side of his face. The decontamination he experienced, following his ten-hour stay inside the pipe, consisted of being sprayed down with a fire hose immediately upon emerging. Those who are closest to Chris are worried, and one of the biggest reasons for this is that no one knows what kinds of chemicals he was exposed to or what the long-term health impacts will be.

Hate to be cynical, but being that the reason he skateboarded the pipe was to protest it, don't you think there might be a chance he is faking those symptoms? Sounds easy, just say that you feel dizzy and have a headache.

It’s the last thing you want to find out when you go to the beach: The water is closed to swimming because of pollution.

Last year, there were more than 20,000 beach closings and advisory days nationwide because of pollution, mostly sewage. And last month, the EPA was supposed to announce a rule that would clean up our beaches, but we’re still waiting.

One of the main causes of beach closings is runoff pollution. When it rains, roads, parking lots, and sprawling development carry polluted stormwater full of grime and chemicals directly to our beaches. The stormwater also goes into our sewer systems, causing sewage overflows.

And that’s gross enough, but what’s really bad is that the EPA estimates that up to 3.5 million people become ill each year from contact with sewage pollution.

When Congress passed the Clean Water Act more than 40 years ago, one of the central goals was to ensure that all our waters would be safe for swimming. And with you’re help, we can make sure that happens before any more beach closings or anyone else gets sick.

You're the cheapest and lamest moderator. You don't even ban the comments of zendog when he threatens to murder those who own this site, but you ban opinions simply because they differ from your own. How lame you are. You pro-democrat Twinkle Teamers really co-opted this place good.

Hey dimwit why U complain-en 2 me? Complain 2 the site. I'm thinken that if ZD had threatened the life of the owner of the site - that he would get booted - so I must contend that U are likely wrong in U'r charge.

Now I have heard that cooking something in it's own juices was good for flavor. BUT - cooking something "with it's own juices? " That has just got to be awesome - Nope don't need the grill Ma - looky I just strikes a match and woosh - kinda like popeal just set it and forget it - only it's just light it and forget it. Yay.

What you mean it ain't it's own juices - ain't that one them thar GMO fishies?